Finishing A Townhouse Attic

Follow the rule of 7s.

Finishing a townhouse attic.

Price and stock could change after publish date and we may make money from these links. A contractor or a local building official can help you assess how the rule will apply to your attic and how modifications like dormers can resolve height shortcomings. Converting an attic to a living area yields a modest return on your investment. See more ideas about attic rooms attic spaces attic renovation.

At least 50 step 2 make sure the attic has a full size staircase. Every attic is different but a few established norms and practices will guide your renovation. According to remodeling impact report from the national association of realtors an attic bedroom conversion that includes a small bath has a national median cost of 75 000 and retains 53 of its value if you should decide to sell your house. Finished attics need stairs that meet all of the standard staircase requirements.

When we had our townhouse built we had the option to turn the unused attic into a functional living space. In most cases though the joists cannot support live loads and may not even be covered with boards. Below you can see townhouses with and without a third floor. We chose not to do it and i ve regretted it since.

That third floor is how it would look with the unused attic space totally transformed. If you re finishing your attic insulating it to the proper r value can cause a dramatic loss of headroom if you limit yourself to fiberglass batts. Stairs can take up a lot of space in both the attic and in the floor below so they are important considerations for planning. In rare cases especially in new construction homes the attic may have been built unfinished with the correct flooring in place with the idea that the homeowner could later on finish the space.

Here are several reasons you should never buy a house and try to convert an attic into living space. Sep 17 2017 explore amy pond s board finished attic ideas on pinterest. In general stairs must be at least 3 feet wide and provide at least 6 feet 8 inches of headroom. To meet all three goals insulating your finished attic ventilating the roof and maximizing headroom use a combination of dense batt insulation rigid foam sheeting and air chutes.

Step 1 check the ceiling height. Enforcement varies but codes typically say that at least half of a finished attic must be at least 7 feet high and that this area must be a minimum of 7 feet wide and 70 square feet.